Category: Runs

So it was about the same temperature as yesterday in Central Park (today was 72), but it was considerably more humid. In fact, yesterday’s 30% humidity was trumped by today’s 60%. Nonetheless, I trampled out 5.41 miles without stopping today, but with some similar impulses of stopping my run to walk.

Those impulses, though, were infrequent. You see, that’s part of training: managing those impulses to stop so that you don’t and instead you carry on. The more often you successfully manage yourself in the face of the stopping impulse, the more you condition yourself to effortlessly succeed in the face of it, such that your body stops trying to put it in your way because your body learns it won’t win by doing it.

It didn’t hurt that there was a comparably speedy girl over the last mile or so of my run, whom I caught, who didn’t seem to like that I’d caught her, who sped up when I was neck and neck with her, whom I eventually overtook when I was in my last “lap.” I wasn’t competing with her, instead following her to see how she’d behave with the pressure of my presence. She did well–not that I was training her or anything. 🙂

Other than a fleeting twinge in my left ankle capsule near the beginning of my run (my problem that doesn’t seem to leave), I had no physiological issues with this run. However, my breathing isn’t in control yet and my heart isn’t conditioned. I also wonder if my iron constitution (i.e., my stomach) isn’t conditioned either. Just before heading out for this morning’s run, I downed ArginMax and quercetin, which gave me no problems except as I came toward the finish, debating the tolerability of an ending sprint in lieu of a gut that was a little odd. Sure enough, not immediately after but soon after I almost yakked but was contained. Was it today because of no food with the supplements in my system, coupled with the heat? Stay tuned to figure out.

My run, though, was slower than I had expected. I ended up with 7:48s over 5.41, and while the Bike Tour bikes crowded the feeder road into the park, they only knocked me off my past on the East Side until the 72nd St. Transverse. I cite the humidity as probably the most significant factor in my slower speed; for comparison, I’ve done 7:27s so far in lower temperatures.

After my run, I hit the gym for abs, back, arms, and legs. I realize how nice it felt to get up, make my bed, and pretty much go for a run. Making my bed is nearly automatic for me. I want running to be that, too, because then I don’t debate whether to go and then talk myself out of it. It feels good to have put that behind me and it’s not yet afternoon.

One last thing: Good luck to Elizabeth Corkum who is running the Blue Cross Broad Street Run 10-miler in Philadelphia this morning. I was helping her to train in recent months. Go, Liz, go!

The thermometer in Central Park said 73 degrees, but about an hour later my Weatherbug says it’s 85 degrees, so, since the CNN thermometer has been known to stick, I have to wonder if today’s very humbling run was partially the result of a much larger spike in temperature than I realized.

The run started out a bit on the slow side because I decided I wanted to keep this run “slow and steady,” to see if I’d be up for Great Hill and something above a 10K. Just after mile 2, I was re-routed to the bridle path because of an event, and I was spit out onto the 102nd St. Transverse so I just stuck with that.

Around mile 3, things took a tumble for me. I suddenly felt I couldn’t really maintain my pace, so I actually took the unlike-me step to walk some. I walked for maybe about 90 feet or so, then took back to running. But my running didn’t last long as I felt consumed again, so I took back to walking again. I did this the rest of the run–walking some, running some–a kind of running I don’t think I’ve done in my years in NYC.

Why did this happen? Some of it was because of the heat, but not the heat alone, but the combination of the heat and my current body. Today my body was not performing. My heart seemed the most inimical. I couldn’t get to a comfortable pace and felt belabored. Around mile 3 is when I was even feeling tension in my chest and upper back–maybe you’d call them chest pains, but nothing very scary. I attributed this condition to a poor cardiovascular system I currently have and need to train. It just couldn’t take on the load.

I ran out of Redline Ultra Hardcore earlier in the week and I switched over to regular Redline that I had remaining. I felt chills this week on many occasions, possibly from these pills but perhaps from my digestive ails this week. Whatever the case, I had 3 ArginMax before the run but no Redline so I got to wondering if my switch to salad-based lunches on set has diminished my regular protein intake throughout the week, or if I wasn’t enough carbo-loaded. Suffice it to say, I want to have a pasta dinner with chicken tonight to see what effects, if any, they have on tomorrow’s run.

And this week was a nightmare week for running. One day I got a rush call to work, which didn’t let out until 12:30am. That same morning I had a 6:30am van. I ended up with 2 hours of sleep that night, and had to play ketchup. I worked 4 days this week and while I could have managed runs in some of those slots, I was priding my rest a bit more.

On the horizon for next week, I understand I’m being considered for regular work on a television project. If I get that gig, it could be a blessing for my training, though it could also be a curse. I want to think more blessing than curse. Let’s see how this week unfolds!

P.S. I went to the gym after my run and did arms, abs, and back.

Well, while today’s run in light rain seemed per my Garmin to be a bit on the slow side in the beginning, I ended up with a 9-second faster pace than a couple days ago, meaning I broke 7:30s without much in the way of conditioning. Specifically, my pace today over 5.39 miles was 7:26s. In the second half of the run, I did get a little more challenging of myself, asking to see if I could go just a little bit faster. It’s a difference that seemed to make a difference.

It’s important to note my feeling, the temperature, and the weather. 52 degrees with light rain was not unpleasant or even cold, though it sounds as if it would be. I was still comfortable shirtless and it did feel good. However, while it didn’t feel cold, for running my body didn’t feel as warm as for the last run, so I was wondering in the beginning if the temperature was downgrading my performance. In the end, it didn’t appear to.

As for injuries, none to report, though in my left kneecap, on the outside, I felt “something.” It was like a twinge but with no pain. I was trying to equate the feeling and it was maybe like having something pulling at a hair on the leg but, again, no pain–you just notice it. I don’t recall feeling it in the second half of my run.

Afterwards, I went home to do submissions and check my phone, then went to the gym for abs, back, arms, and even some legwork. It feels good to be back at the gym, even if I don’t do much.

Let’s see how this week shapes up trainingwise. I’m still only doing 5.4-milers. And I’m having a protein smoothie as I type this.